Romney receives cheers, $3 million in donations in Midland

Published 2:13 pm, Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Gov. Mitt Romney gets back into his car after a fundraising event at the Petroleum Club. Midlander Don Evans, at right, was traveling with the presidential candidate.

Gov. Mitt Romney gets back into his car after a fundraising event at the Petroleum Club. Midlander Don Evans, at right, was traveling with the presidential candidate.

Photo: Tim Fischer/Reporter-Telegram

Romney receives cheers, $3 million in donations in Midland

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Gov. Mitt Romney was met with cheering and applause from a crowd of Midland Republicans in attendance at Tuesday fundraisers that grossed the presidential candidate more than $3 million in donations.

Romney told those in attendance at a reception at the Petroleum Club that he “passionately loves America” and wants to help put the country back on track.

“I’m convinced that if we handle directly, if we confront directly the challenges we have, that America’s going to come roaring back,” Romney said. “That people around the world will have respect for this country, that we’ll see good jobs rise again.”

President Barack Obama said a lot of things when he accepted the Democratic nomination four years ago, Romney said. Since then, he’s done nothing to help accomplish most of those goals.

“He’s taken us down a path that doesn’t lead to the things he’s promised,” Romney said. “It’s a lack of understanding of how America works, of how the economy works.”

Romney said America has been successful because of individuals, whether they be people like Rosa Parks who stood up for freedom or entrepreneurs like oil driller Harold Hamm.

“It’s amazing the power of one person,” Romney said.

Former Secretary of Commerce Don Evans, who introduced Romney, said Romney is a man with the right values and vision as well as a person who understands fully the needs of the oil and gas industry.

“He understands the character of the country at this time,” Evans said. “This is a country that is saying it’s time to quit kicking the can down the road, that it’s time to make the right decisions that are in the best long-term interest of the general well-being of this great nation.”

Romney said he appreciated all the support he received from Midland. Between the Tall City events and an earlier fundraiser in Houston, Romney raised more than $6 million today.

“Had I known you could raise $3 million, I’d have been here long ago,” Romney said.